There are three main kinds of antidepressants, all of which have their own problems. The oldest kind, called tricyclics, such as amitriptyline (Tryptizol) and imipramine (Tofranil) commonly cause drowsiness, dry mouth, constipation, sweating, dizziness and blurred vision.

Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, include fluoxetine (Prozac) and paroxetine (Seroxat) and can cause headaches, nervousness, insomnia, anxiety, nausea, diarrhoea and reduced libido. They are also addictive and cause unpleasant withdrawal symptoms such as constant agitation, sleeplessness and nightmares.

Finally, the monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), such as phenelzine (Nardil) and tranylcypromine sulphate (Parnate), have fewer side effects but can cause a dangerous rise in blood pressure if taken with foods containing the amino acid tyramine, such as cheese, or with decongestants or antihistamines.

We aren’t making medical claims and we aren’t knocking these medicines but we’ve noticed that some people have benefitted from other protocols too. Exercise has been shown to be as effective in combatting mild to moderate depression as SSRIs and some evidence exists that fish oil fatty acids can be beneficial too. This book expands on the latter.

Search Inside Yourself was born at Google from one engineer’s dream to change the world.

It began in 2007 when veteran engineer Chade-Meng Tan assembled leading experts in mindfulness, neuroscience and emotional intelligence to develop an internal course for his fellow Googlers. It quickly became an incredibly popular training program within Google.

Interest outside Google was so great that the Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute (SIYLI) was established in 2012 as an independent nonprofit organization. Since then, Search Inside Yourself has become a globally recognized program and SIYLI continues to work with Google, as well as other corporate, nonprofit and government organizations around the world.

This one includes a free CD and guided meditations as well. It’s also great as an audiobook. MINDFULNESS reveals a set of simple yet powerful practices that can be incorporated into daily life to help break the cycle of unhappiness, stress, anxiety and mental exhaustion and promote genuine joie de vivre. It’s the kind of happiness that gets into your bones. It seeps into everything you do and helps you meet the worst that life can throw at you with new courage. The book is based on Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). MBCT revolves around a straightforward form of mindfulness meditation which takes just a few minutes a day for the full benefits to be revealed. MBCT has been clinically proven to be at least as effective as drugs for depression and it is recommended by the UK’s National Institute of Clinical Excellence – in other words, it works. More importantly, it also works for people who are not depressed but who are struggling to keep up with the constant demands of the modern world. MINDFULNESS focuses on promoting joy and peace rather than banishing unhappiness. It’s precisely focused to help ordinary people boost their happiness and confidence levels whilst also reducing anxiety, stress and irritability

Scientific research has shown that mindfulness practices enhance mental health and improve performance in every field of endeavour. And leaders who have undergone mindfulness training report that it provides a “transformative experience” that significantly improves their innovation, self-awareness, listening, and decision-making. This website has some good, downloadable material and many practical tools.

Matthieu Ricard, who is both biochemist and Buddhist, combines his extensive knowledge of science and religion in this inspiring TED talk, arguing that we can all train our minds in the habits of happiness.

What do ‘reduced stress, better heart health, lowered anxiety and pain perception and higher overall happiness’ have in common? They are all correlated to your ability to ask for forgiveness – this engaging video explains why.

Social psychologist and author Dan Gilbert challenges the idea that specific life events determine our wellbeing, and proposes that true happiness does not depend on external factors, but that it comes from within.

Psychiatrist Robert Waldinger shares his fascinating findings on what makes a good life and – based on his 75-year old study of adult development – offers unique insights into what keeps us happy and healthy.

Psychologists champion the benefits of mindfulness, as it has been shown to be effective at managing stress, enhancing relationships, and may even help reduce pain. This article seeks to understand better how it works.

You may have heard that the model of “left brain” and “right brain” is a bit of a simplification, but don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater as there is some some truth in the idea of lateralisation of brain function. This wonderful, animated film tells you more ….

All of us want to enjoy happy, productive and fulfilling working lives. But all too often, complexity and stress gets in the way. At its most extreme, acute stress – prolonged pressure which is beyond our capacity to cope with – can lead to burn-out. But much less spoken about, yet just as destructive to our well-being, is under-stimulation, what we term ‘rust-out’.

No industry has inflicted more suffering than the Motivational Industry. Motivational books, speakers and posters have made billions of dollars selling shortcuts to success and tools for unleashing our unlimited potential. At Despair, they know such products only raise hopes to dash them. That’s why their products go straight to the dashing! Enjoy!

Critical people make rude comments, judge our decisions, talk at length about what we’re doing wrong or rarely have anything nice to say. One way to deal with them is to stop being with them altogether.

But this isn’t easy to do when the critical person is your boss, colleague, family member or your partner’s father. In other words, you can’t just stop seeing them for the rest of your life. And in some cases you might have to interact with them on a daily basis.

In some ways this was the book that kicked off the whole EI debate: the groundbreaking bestseller that redefined intelligence and success. Does IQ define our destiny? Daniel Goleman argues that our view of human intelligence is far too narrow, and that our emotions play a major role in thought, decision making and individual success. Self-awareness, impulse control, persistence, motivation, empathy and social deftness are all qualities that mark people who excel: whose relationships flourish, who are stars in the workplace. With new insights into the brain architecture underlying emotion and rationality, Goleman shows precisely how emotional intelligence can be nurtured and strengthened in all of us.

Authors Steven J. Stein and Howard E. Book show you how the dynamic of emotional intelligence works. By understanding EQ, you can build more meaningful relationships, boost your confidence and optimism, and respond to challenges with enthusiasm–all of which are essential ingredients of success.

The EQ Edge offers fascinating–and sometimes surprising–insights into what it takes to be a top law–enforcement officer, lawyer, school principal, student, doctor, dentist or CEO. You will learn what the top EQ factors are across many different kinds of jobs, from business managers and customer service representatives to HR professionals and public servants.

Whether it’s a manager who keeps moving the goal posts, an uncooperative colleague, negative friend, or critical family member, some people are just plain hard to get along with.

Often, your immediate response is to shrink or sulk, become defensive or attack. But there are smarter moves to make when dealing with difficult people. This book explains how to cope with a range of situations with difficult people and to focus on what you can change.

In The Big Leap, Gay Hendricks, the New York Times bestselling author of Five Wishes, demonstrates how to eliminate the barriers to success by overcoming false fears and beliefs. Fans of Wayne Dyer, Eckhart Tolle, Marianne Williamson, and The Secret will find useful, effective tips for breaking down the walls to a better life in The Big Leap.

Marisa Peer’s tried and tested programme is an effortless way to maximise your potential and overhaul your whole outlook on life for the better. Her powerful hypnotic language and effective techniques mean that just reading the book enables you to change negative thought patterns and break harmful habits that have been holding you back without you knowing it.

We trained with Linda Sykes. She’s a great teacher, with a real passion for not only NLP but also yoga. There are lots of advantages to working with someone who makes the clear link between mind and body.

Outlining the five elements of good emotional health – insightfulness, a strong sense of self, fluid relationships, authenticity and playfulness in our approach to life – James offers strategies for optimising each characteristic to live more fulfilling lives. Helping us to understand the impact our emotional baggage has on our daily interactions, he reveals how to overcome unhelpful patterns and become more self-aware – revitalising our approach to life.

Colonel Chris Hadfield has spent decades training as an astronaut and has logged nearly 4,000 hours in space. During this time he has broken into a Space Station with a Swiss army knife, disposed of a live snake while piloting a plane, been temporarily blinded while clinging to the exterior of an orbiting spacecraft, and become a YouTube sensation with his performance of David Bowie’s ‘Space Oddity’ in space. The secret to Chris Hadfield’s success – and survival – is an unconventional philosophy he learned at NASA: prepare for the worst – and enjoy every moment of it.

A link to various mindfulness meditation exercises by Dr Melanie Fennell, which can be bought from iTunes. They range from brief 3 minute exercises to much longer exercises. A wide range of exercises is available to complement a range of needs and preferences.

Work stressors can be identified in almost all aspects of one’s job. Before taking action to eliminate or reduce these stressors, pinpoint their sources. Isolate these factors so corrective action can begin

Good information from a website established by a leader in the field of ACT and mindfulness. Absolutely excellent and very accessible. His materials are tailored to both psychological therapy and coaching.

This book shows how fear manifests itself in large organisations, how it impacts on the workforce and how by reducing our willingness to take risks and to innovate, it can inhibit economic growth and innovation, at both an individual and corporate level. The book contains several quotes from Chris Welford.

Popular ideas about happiness are misleading, inaccurate, and are directly contributing to our current epidemic of stress, anxiety and depresssion. And unfortunately, popular psychological approaches are making it even worse. In this controversial, but empowering self-help book, Dr Russ Harries, reveals how millions of people are unwittingly caught in the ‘The Happiness Trap’, where the more they strive for happiness the more they suffer in the long term

As a Professor of Behavioural Science at the London School of Economics, Dolan conducts original research into the measurement of happiness and its causes and consequences, including the effects of our behaviour. Here he creates a new outlook on the pursuit of happiness – it’s not just how you feel, it’s how you act

About

This site is maintained by two individuals who wear more than one hat – be it consultant, psychologist or psychotherapist – so you should expect to find a wide range of materials that are all about how people learn, perform and grow. Chris and Jackie founded Sixth Sense Consulting Ltd in 2010. We provide assessment, leadership development, team building, career transition, psychotherapy, and wellbeing services to individuals and organisations. Our aim is to share materials and resources we use in our day to day work with others in a digestible and practical format.